Meaning of Triquetra - Trinity Knot - Celtic Triangle

By Gaelyn Larrick

The triquetra is a three part ancient symbol comprised of three interlocked vesica pices, often used to represent people or concepts in groups of three. Also known as the trinity knot and Celtic triangle, it has been found in Celtic art, paganism and also has been used in Christianity.

The triquetra symbol has been found on stones, in northern Europe, that date back to before 1,000 AD. The triquetra is also found in the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript that was likely created on the Island of Iona (off the Scottish coast) around AD 800.

The triquetra has been found on rune stones in Northern Europe and on early Germanic coins. It probably had pagan religious meaning and it bears a resemblance to the Valknut, a symbol associated with Odin.

For pagans, the Triquetra represents the threefold nature of the Goddess as virgin, mother and crone. It also symbolizes life, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature: earth, air, and water. The inner three circles represent the female element and fertility.

For Christians, the Triquetra represents the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--three persons as one God. Its three equal arcs represent equality, its continuous line expresses eternity, and the interweaving represents indivisibility and unity.

Recently the triquetra has been seen on the television show "Charmed." It was used as a symbol by the Halliwell sisters. They mentioned on the series that the symbol represents the Power Of Three, and Prue later suggests that it represents the three of them working together as one.